pecially, by whom as the organ of the Council it is delivered, it returns directly with all its sacredness and all its weight. For sixteen years he has been, and still by the good pleasure of the Great Shepherd, he continues to be, an overseer of this same flock. With what fidelity and in what manner, amidst infirmities, and temptations, and cares, and labours, he has fulfilled the sacred trust must be referred to a higher, and truer, than any human judgment. Sensible, however, as he is of many and great deficiences, and humbled as he desires to be for them; yet his conscience is witness, and God is witness, that he has loved this people, and been willing to spend and be spent for them; that he has loved the pastoral work, and had no wish to be discharged from it. And his heart must be dead to its dearest objects, before he can cease to care for the souls of his charge, or to seek their good. But most devoutly would he thank the Lord Jesus, that in his supreme goodness, and in answer to many prayers, he has sent you to take part in this holy and arduous ministry; that while, by his gracious permission and help, something shall be attempted, for imparting the light of his salvation to thousands and millions in distant regions of darkness and of the shadow of death, there may be no lack of pastoral attention to this people.

My Brother, you will be a "true yoke fellow." This heart confides in you; and holds most dear the reciprocated confidence, of which it is assured. This mutual and affectionate confidence must be preserved inviolate, as a perpetual security against any other strife than of love and good works. But there is another and a higher confidence; a confidence which reposes itself in the bosom of everlasting Love, and takes hold on everlasting Strength. The word is sure, Lo I am with you always. My grace is sufficient/or thee. Be thou faithful unto death, and I- will give thee a crown of life. Blessed, glorious consummation; if, by Pivine grace, Pastors and People so acquit themselves in regard to the gospel, its momentous requisitions and objects, as to meet, with mutual rejoicing, in the presence of the Lord Jesus, in the day of his appearing. Amen.

RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.
BY REV. BROWN EMERSON A. M.

PASTOR OF THE THIRD CHURCH IN SALEM.

The Church of God is one. The covenant of grace, the broad charter of its privileges, the consecrated channel of its holy provisions, is the same in every age, and under every dispensation. Though there are differences of administrations," and " diversities of gifts and operations;" yet there is but " one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all!" Every true christian is a lively stone in that temple, which " is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself, being the chief corner stone." The unity of the church is further described by a metaphor, which represents the believer as united to the Head, "even Christ, in whom the whole body, fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love."

This unity of the church is the basis of that christian fellowship, which, like a strong cement, unites the parts of the spiritual edifice, giving strength and beauty to the whole.

The right of giving and withholding this fellowship is vested in the church, and in no case is the exercise of this right more important, than in the election and consecration of pastors. From the primitive age of the christian church, it has been the custom, when men were set apart to the pastoral office, to give them a public pledge of christian and ministerial fellowship.

This custom is sanctioned by the high authority of apostolic example.

The good providence of God having directed this Church and Parish to the choice of you, dear Sir, as their spiritual teach

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er and guide, in connexion with their present much respectefl and beloved pastor, and inclined your heart to comply with their wish, in behalf of the ecclesiastical Council, here convened, / tender you this right hand.

Receive it, beloved brother, as a token, on the part of the church, of christian fellowship and affection. We hereby express our confidence in your fidelity to Christ, and other qualifications requisite for the work of the ministry. We give you. a cordial welcome to this part of the gospel vineyard, where, we doubt not, you will prove yourself a faithful minister of the new covenant, " in labors, in watchings, by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." Receive this right hand as a token of ministerial fellowship. We hereby acknowledge you as a brother and fellow laborer " in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." As you have been solemnly consecrated to the pastoral office, and have received a charge to fulfil the duties of that sacred trust, we, who are invested with the same office, give you this significant token, as a pledge, on our part, of christian and ministerial friendship, aid, and encouragement; and your accepting the pledge, is regarded as a promise, on your part, to reciprocate the same kind offices. The duties of a christian bishop are attended with peculiar difficulties and dangers, that require the counsel of wisdom matured by experience, and the comfort of that brotherly Jove, which is like the precious ointment upon the head of Aaron, and like the dew of Hermon on the mountains of Zion.

Though I speak as an organ of this ecclesiastical council, I must claim the indulgence of considering this right hand as a token and pledge of personal affection.

Since the Lord has cast our lots so near together, and the people of our respective charges are so intermingled and connected with each other, that their interests and concerns are, in a great measure, one, it is of high importance, that we maintain between ourselves the strictest friendship and harmony.

The uninterrupted harmony, which has for many years sublasted between our churches and their pastors, evinces a mutual disposition " to follow after the things which make for peace, ji}id things wherewith one may edify another. Let brotherly .ove continue." My acquaintance with you, and the long tried , friendship of your respected colleague, raises the hope almost to .insurance, that our ministerial and social connexion will be happy in its results. Most cordially do I welcome you to a part .vith us in the ministry in this place.

We rejoice, brother, in your readiness to take the joint oversight of this dear church and people, and pray that you may be abundantly endued with that heavenly wisdom, which is especially needful amid the duties and trials of the gospel ministry. It is not, we are persuaded, without a solemn and enlightened view of the magnitude of the undertaking, and of the awful responsibility attending it, that you enter upon this charge. When it is considered, that a faithful minister is " a savor of life unto life," or of " death unto death," to every soul among his people, capable of receiving and rejecting the truth, we may well exclaim, "Who is sufficient for these things?"

But it is a great and good work; and if attended with much labor and trial, it is also attended with rewards and consolations. Go forward, then, dear brother, relying on the allsufficient grace of Christ, and encouraged by the cheering promise, " Lo, I am with you alway." May you be favored with a long and successful ministry, and when called from your honorable station in the church below, may you rise, with all who shall believe through your word, and occupy a distinguished place in the kingdom of glory.

Brethren of this Church and Parish,

We sincerely congratulate you, on seeing the man of your .choice installed as your associate pastor and teacher. We feel a lively pleasure in beholding the uncommon unanimity, which has attended your doings relative to this momentous concern. Instead of being left without a pastor, the Lord has given you two of his servants, whose praise is in the churches, who will feed you with wisdom and understanding. Though we regard